COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 4 DECEMBER 2007
ROOM 152 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Dr William McCrea MP (Chairperson)
Tom Elliott (Deputy Chairperson)
P J Bradley
Allan Bresland
Thomas Burns
Trevor Clarke
Willie Clarke
William Irwin
Francie Molloy
George Savage
In attendance: Paul Carlisle (Clerk to the Committee)
Trevor Allen (Assistant Clerk)
Mary Hawthorne (Clerical Supervisor)
Kathy Neill (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: No apologies were received
The meeting opened at 1.38pm in Public Session.
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Minutes of last meeting
The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 29 November 2007.
3. Matters arising
(a) Correspondence Issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued following the meeting of 29 November 2007 and that the Minister will attend the meeting on 11th December.
(b) Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 29 November 2007 and agreed that the Committee meet with the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food following meetings with the respective committees in the other Devolved Administrations and the Isle of Man.
4. Examiner of Statutory Rules Report
The Committee noted the sixth report from the Examiner of Statutory Rules.
5. SL1 – Shrimp Fishing Nets (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007
Paddy Campbell, Department official, joined the meeting at 1.42pm and gave a presentation on the proposed Statutory Rule. Mr Campbell then answered questions from the members.
1.43pm Mr Elliott joined the meeting
The Committee agreed to the proposal.
6. SL1 – The Unlicensed Fishing for Crab and Lobster Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008
Paddy Campbell, Department official, joined the meeting at 1.46pm and gave a presentation on the proposed Statutory Rule. Mr Campbell then answered questions from the members.
The Committee raised concerns over the equality impact of the Rule and agreed that the Clerk write to the Departmental Assembly Liaison Officer seeking clarification and that it be raised at the next Committee meeting on 11th December.
Mr Campbell left the meeting at 1.44pm.
7. Presentation – Diseases of Animals Bill pre-consultation
Colette Connor and Jennifer Corkey, Departmental Officials, joined the meeting at 1.54pm and gave a presentation on the Department’s intention to consult on the proposed Diseases of Animals Bill and also detailed the proposed clauses of the Bill. They then answered questions from the members.
2.01pm The Chairperson adjourned the meeting
2.04pm The meeting resumed
The representatives left the meeting at 2.16pm.
8. Presentation – Clyde Fisheries Working Group
Frank Armstrong, Michael O’Malley, Dick James and Stephen Park, representatives of the Clyde Fisheries Working Group, joined the meeting at 2.17pm and gave a presentation on the Clyde Fisheries Development Project (CFDP) and the Sustainable Supply Chain Project (SSCP).
The representatives then answered questions from the members.
2.18pm Mr Burns joined the meeting
2.47pm Mr Burns left the meeting
2.52pm Mr Savage left the meeting
2.52pm Mr Elliott left the meeting
The representatives left the meeting at 2.52pm.
9. Fishing Industry – discussion with stakeholders prior to Brussels Visit
Alan McCulla, Paul Kerr, Liam McKibben, Walter Crozier, Dick James, Paddy Campbell and Kenneth Patterson joined the meeting at 2.53pm and gave a presentation on the positions held by each of the fishing industry stakeholder groups and the Committee’s approach to be taken at the meeting with Commissioner Borg during the Brussels visit.
3.00pm Mr Elliott returned to the meeting
The officials then answered questions from the members.
The officials left the meeting at 3.41pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that Mr Alan McCulla be included in the delegation meeting with Commissioner Borg.
10. December Monitoring Round
Seamus Doran, Lynda Lowe, Tom Rodgers and Vince McKevitt, Departmental officials, joined the meeting at 3.43pm and gave a presentation on the Departmental submission to the Department of Finance and Personnel on the December Monitoring round.
3.49pm Mr Burns returned to the meeting
The representatives then answered questions from the members.
The representatives left the meeting at 4.19pm.
Mr W Clarke proposed that the Forkhill Development Company be invited to brief the Committee.
Mr W Clarke and Mr F Molloy supported the proposal. Dr W McCrea MP, Mr T Elliott, Mr A Bresland, Mr T Clarke and Mr W Irwin opposed the proposal. Mr T Burns and Mr PJ Bradley abstained. The proposal fell.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk write to the Department seeking clarification on issues raised.
11. Any Other Business
(a) Members agreed that, given the visit to Brussels, packs for the next meeting will be issued on Friday 7th December
(b) Members noted a forthcoming meeting of the Rural Development Sub-Committee of the Welsh Assembly in Northern Ireland as part of its inquiry into tuberculosis
(c) Member noted travel arrangement for the meeting in Brussels on 5th and 6th December
(d) Members noted the Royal Ulster Dairy Winter Fair on 13th December in the Kings Hall, Belfast. Those wishing to attend should contact the Committee Office.
12. Date of Next Meeting
The Committee will next meet at 1.30pm on Tuesday, 11 December 2007 in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 4.23pm.
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Chairperson
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Date